Why do you reload? 

Cost savings?  Want to be able to make the rounds "just so"?  Want it a specific way for hunting, precision rifle, benchrest?

As I'm going down this road toward reloading, primarily for rifle, I've found that even with my shooting buddies, there are fundamental differences in why some of them reload.  One is all about hunting and lower cost, another is wanting more precision but not willing to invest a lot.  Yet another is interested in more precision, but on the periphery of shooting (doesn't really shoot much). 

All reason are good, but I've found that some folks can be so boxed in what they want or know, that they don't appreciate why others want to chase an aspect of reloading.  I'm sort of in the middle of all of that as I am just getting started.  But funny when say hunter is poopooing on the one chasing more precision for wondering about a 20" to longer barrel or when the bullet goes transonic.  The "hell, I'll never shoot a [insert animal name] further than 200 yards, so you're just over thinking things" or "that gun is way to heavy to be humping around Maui".  I just sit back and listen to their banter.

For pistol, I never even considered reloading for 9 mm.  I'm getting into it now for economics and availability of ammo.  Even when I shot USPSA, I wasn't into getting poof poof ammo.  Even if I likely could have saved some money, I wasn't willing to jump into the reloading mix. 

Cost. Control over loads.

Why do you reload? 

Cost savings?  Want to be able to make the rounds "just so"?  Want it a specific way for hunting, precision rifle, benchrest?

As I'm going down this road toward reloading, primarily for rifle, I've found that even with my shooting buddies, there are fundamental differences in why some of them reload.  One is all about hunting and lower cost, another is wanting more precision but not willing to invest a lot.  Yet another is interested in more precision, but on the periphery of shooting (doesn't really shoot much). 

All reason are good, but I've found that some folks can be so boxed in what they want or know, that they don't appreciate why others want to chase an aspect of reloading.  I'm sort of in the middle of all of that as I am just getting started.  But funny when say hunter is poopooing on the one chasing more precision for wondering about a 20" to longer barrel or when the bullet goes transonic.  The "hell, I'll never shoot a [insert animal name] further than 200 yards, so you're just over thinking things" or "that gun is way to heavy to be humping around Maui".  I just sit back and listen to their banter.

For pistol, I never even considered reloading for 9 mm.  I'm getting into it now for economics and availability of ammo.  Even when I shot USPSA, I wasn't into getting poof poof ammo.  Even if I likely could have saved some money, I wasn't willing to jump into the reloading mix.

Same here for all the same reasons. I've looked at it in the past and I was considering it. The front cost was the biggest hurdle. But as of late, I'm reloading for rifle and pistol rounds. I was loading for black powder rifle and revolver, making loading tubes and paper cartridges. I wasn't to far behind in reloading. Now, I'm even considering loading 22lr. Crazy, but things have gotten crazy.

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Why do you reload? 

Cost savings?  Want to be able to make the rounds "just so"?  Want it a specific way for hunting, precision rifle, benchrest?

As I'm going down this road toward reloading, primarily for rifle, I've found that even with my shooting buddies, there are fundamental differences in why some of them reload.  One is all about hunting and lower cost, another is wanting more precision but not willing to invest a lot.  Yet another is interested in more precision, but on the periphery of shooting (doesn't really shoot much). 

All reason are good, but I've found that some folks can be so boxed in what they want or know, that they don't appreciate why others want to chase an aspect of reloading.  I'm sort of in the middle of all of that as I am just getting started.  But funny when say hunter is poopooing on the one chasing more precision for wondering about a 20" to longer barrel or when the bullet goes transonic.  The "hell, I'll never shoot a [insert animal name] further than 200 yards, so you're just over thinking things" or "that gun is way to heavy to be humping around Maui".  I just sit back and listen to their banter.

For pistol, I never even considered reloading for 9 mm.  I'm getting into it now for economics and availability of ammo.  Even when I shot USPSA, I wasn't into getting poof poof ammo.  Even if I likely could have saved some money, I wasn't willing to jump into the reloading mix.

I reload for various reasons. Economy. Being able to get ammo not available like 9mm and 223/556. I don’t have to limit myself to 10 rounds per range session if I don’t want to. Even when 9mm and 223 was cheap I still reloaded for these cartridges. BTW I always keep a few boxes of commercial ammo lying around. Sometimes a firearm doesn’t respond well to your reloads. It is nice to have some commercial ammo to try so you can figure out if it is your reloads or the gun having an issue.

But there are 2 big reasons for me. I like older firearms. And reloading gives me the opportunity to buy what I want even if ammo is obsolete and no longer available. I know lots of guys that bought old milsurp rifles thinking that ammo is available but it turned out they could not find it. Or it was priced at 2 bucks a shot or more. I own several rifles and pistols now that fire obsolete ammo no longer available. I get a lot of satisfaction knowing I am keeping these old war horses working. Nothing I own just sits in my I safe. I couldn’t do that without reloading. And I can make the ammo economically as well. But the biggest reason I reload is the satisfaction of making something with my hands and firing it and reaping a sense of accomplishment. So it is more of a hobby for me due to the satisfaction aspect. One more aspect is consistency. If I use the same components every time I have ammo that shoots to POA everytime. Try that with your cheap range ammo of different weights and manufacture.

Cost. Control over loads.

Would match ammo fit your needs?  Even close? 

Would match ammo fit your needs?  Even close?

I think they charge too much and I am not familiar with how they label ammo "match". All I see is the type of bullet loaded and then the label "match". I don't see any specs on match ammo loads such as powder charge variance from lot to lot, cartridge dimensions etc. Those are all variables that a reloader can control.

I reload for various reasons. Economy. Being able to get ammo not available like 9mm and 223/556. I don’t have to limit myself to 10 rounds per range session if I don’t want to. Even when 9mm and 223 was cheap I still reloaded for these cartridges. BTW I always keep a few boxes of commercial ammo lying around. Sometimes a firearm doesn’t respond well to your reloads. It is nice to have some commercial ammo to try so you can figure out if it is your reloads or the gun having an issue.

But there are 2 big reasons for me. I like older firearms. And reloading gives me the opportunity to buy what I want even if ammo is obsolete and no longer available. I know lots of guys that bought old milsurp rifles thinking that ammo is available but it turned out they could not find it. Or it was priced at 2 bucks a shot or more. I own several rifles and pistols now that fire obsolete ammo no longer available. I get a lot of satisfaction knowing I am keeping these old war horses working. Nothing I own just sits in my I safe. I couldn’t do that without reloading. And I can make the ammo economically as well. But the biggest reason I reload is the satisfaction of making something with my hands and firing it and reaping a sense of accomplishment. So it is more of a hobby for me due to the satisfaction aspect. One more aspect is consistency. If I use the same components every time I have ammo that shoots to POA everytime. Try that with your cheap range ammo of different weights and manufacture.

For .308, economy and flexibility are what got me started.  Got back into shooting my .308 at the wrong time, at least ammo price and availability wise.  Good thing that I have a "decent" amount already, but not nearly where I would have liked it to be when I got back into shooting it more.

The older firearms one is a good point as well.  Or calibers with commercial market/production that aren't great.  Like those wildcat calibers.  I'm also thinking of .41 Mag, which was next to impossible to find ammo locally.  I think if I got into reloading earlier, I'd have a wider variety of rifle calibers than 5.56/.223 and .308.  Well, 7.62x39, but don't envision myself reloading for the AK 

I think they charge too much and I am not familiar with how they label ammo "match". All I see is the type of bullet loaded and then the label "match". I don't see any specs on match ammo loads such as powder charge variance from lot to lot, cartridge dimensions etc. Those are all variables that a reloader can control.

Ahh.  Gotcha.  Have been reading a lot about overuse of "match" in ammo, components, etc.  I was wondering if ammo like FGMM or Hornady (whatever their higher performance as advertised ammo) is close to acceptable performance for you. 

Do you notice variance in batch/lots of your reloading components?  Particularly powder?  I know some who will typically buy the 8# jugs.  I'm no where near having a preference to be able to invest in the 8# jugs. 

For .308, economy and flexibility are what got me started.  Got back into shooting my .308 at the wrong time, at least ammo price and availability wise.  Good thing that I have a "decent" amount already, but not nearly where I would have liked it to be when I got back into shooting it more.

The older firearms one is a good point as well.  Or calibers with commercial market/production that aren't great.  Like those wildcat calibers.  I'm also thinking of .41 Mag, which was next to impossible to find ammo locally.  I think if I got into reloading earlier, I'd have a wider variety of rifle calibers than 5.56/.223 and .308.  Well, 7.62x39, but don't envision myself reloading for the AK 

I’m not a big fan of semi autos (except 22’s). But I don’t pick my brass when firing a 22. I do have a couple of AR’s. Not my favorites to shoot but I still get them out regularly and send rounds down range. I have a brass catcher for them. If I don’t have a brass catcher I have a grabber thing I use to pick up my semi auto brass at the range since my back is not great these days. Just an old fudd.....

I’m not a big fan of semi autos (except 22’s). But I don’t pick my brass when firing a 22. I do have a couple of AR’s. Not my favorites to shoot but I still get them out regularly and send rounds down range. I have a brass catcher for them. If I don’t have a brass catcher I have a grabber thing I use to pick up my semi auto brass at the range since my back is not great these days. Just an old fudd.....

You're a Black Powder guy at heart.   

While reloading for 5.56/.223 is possible for me, due to the volume of fire vs amount of effort required for training ammo doesn't make it make sense to me.  Maybe as we get further down the road and ammo remains tight.  I'm totally down for reloading 9, but as friends have told me, that's "duck soup". 

I pick up brass when I'm at the rifle and pistol ranges.  I sometimes collect my brass when shooting action bays, but mostly let others have it.  At one time, I had like 3-5gal buckets of brass that I ended up giving away.  I have a bunch of 9 brass accumulated now, so lots of work ahead to prep those. 

Ahh.  Gotcha.  Have been reading a lot about overuse of "match" in ammo, components, etc.  I was wondering if ammo like FGMM or Hornady (whatever their higher performance as advertised ammo) is close to acceptable performance for you. 

Do you notice variance in batch/lots of your reloading components?  Particularly powder?  I know some who will typically buy the 8# jugs.  I'm no where near having a preference to be able to invest in the 8# jugs.

I don't recall shooting FGMM or Hornady factory loads. I did shoot the new Army "green" ammo M855A1 out of my service rifle and it was almost as good as my 77 gr load.

I don't recall shooting FGMM or Hornady factory loads. I did shoot the new Army "green" ammo M855A1 out of my service rifle and it was almost as good as my 77 gr load.

On my ARs (not expecting uber accuracy), I've had consistently better results with 193 than 855. 

I've shot Hornady Superformance and another of their better factory loads.  I don't recall being particularly impressed.  I do recall Superformance showed signs of overpressure in my mid-length guns.  It's supposed to be tailored rifle length gas guns. 

I have FGMM 69 and 77 gr factory loads to test in my LPVO upper.  I've had good results with 193 and the Hornady American Gunner (55 gr) with that gun so far.  I had ok results with GD 64 gr.  Interestingly, BH wasn't that great (I think it was 77 gr OTM).  I have some other BH ammo to test as well.  All of my barrels are 1:7, but I expected heavier loads to do well (69-77gr).  Will see once I get back to the range with the LPVO upper. 

ETA: If initial tests don't work well with the heavier ammo, you're welcome to sample. 

those guys with the poof poof loads need to man up and handle the recoil...

those guys with the poof poof loads need to man up and handle the recoil...

Only if you can bench 225+

Only if you can bench 225+

heads

1. Affordable  proficiency training.

2. Win prizes....because "a man's gotta have an edge"
-Chief Lone Watie-

i own no reloading components nor dies and presses...

i own no reloading components nor dies and presses...

Not even the pointy parts...? I forget what they're called...

Not even the pointy parts...? I forget what they're called...

He boring.  No pointy parts.  No "dangly bits".  Etc. . . 

He boring.  No pointy parts.  No "dangly bits".  Etc. . . 

someone wants me to send him dick pics...